Small aircraft Y, departing downwind, has near midair collision with small aircraft X, entering down...

Attributes
ACN	135409
Time
Date	199002
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : gyr
State Reference	AZ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2000 msl bound upper : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : gyr tower : ccr
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft, Low Wing, 1 Eng, Retractable Gear
Flight Phase	other
Flight Plan	VFR
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft
Flight Phase	other
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : cfi pilot : atp pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 9500 flight time type : 2000
ASRS Report	135409
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Events
Anomaly	conflict : nmac
Independent Detector	other controllera other other : unspecified cockpit
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	Other
Miss Distance	vertical : 50
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was in one small aircraft X, following another company small aircraft Z. We were told by tower to report turning downwind for runway 21. Tower had informed both of us of an small aircraft Y making a downwind departure. Small aircraft Y reported positive identification of aircraft turning downwind and he must have seen the other small aircraft Z which was about 1 mi ahead of us. The small aircraft Y flew directly over us. I estimate our vertical separation of about 50'. Tower had told small aircraft Y that frequency change for him was approved so he could contact phx approach for TCA penetration. I don't think a tower should release an aircraft from its control frequency when within its air traffic area, particularly when it is proceeding at an altitude and course which brings it in direct conflict with other aircraft under their control. A left downwind departure is not an approved procedure for gyr airport.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA Y, DEPARTING DOWNWIND, HAS NMAC WITH SMA X, ENTERING DOWNWIND LEG.

Narrative: I WAS IN ONE SMA X, FOLLOWING ANOTHER COMPANY SMA Z. WE WERE TOLD BY TWR TO REPORT TURNING DOWNWIND FOR RWY 21. TWR HAD INFORMED BOTH OF US OF AN SMA Y MAKING A DOWNWIND DEP. SMA Y REPORTED POSITIVE ID OF ACFT TURNING DOWNWIND AND HE MUST HAVE SEEN THE OTHER SMA Z WHICH WAS ABOUT 1 MI AHEAD OF US. THE SMA Y FLEW DIRECTLY OVER US. I ESTIMATE OUR VERTICAL SEPARATION OF ABOUT 50'. TWR HAD TOLD SMA Y THAT FREQ CHANGE FOR HIM WAS APPROVED SO HE COULD CONTACT PHX APCH FOR TCA PENETRATION. I DON'T THINK A TWR SHOULD RELEASE AN ACFT FROM ITS CTL FREQ WHEN WITHIN ITS ATA, PARTICULARLY WHEN IT IS PROCEEDING AT AN ALT AND COURSE WHICH BRINGS IT IN DIRECT CONFLICT WITH OTHER ACFT UNDER THEIR CONTROL. A LEFT DOWNWIND DEP IS NOT AN APPROVED PROC FOR GYR ARPT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

Small aircraft Y, departing downwind, has near midair collision with small aircraft X, entering downwind leg.